DRAM cell having a capacitor structure fabricated partially in a cavity and method for operating same

ABSTRACT

A memory system that includes a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell including an access transistor and a capacitor structure fabricated in a semiconductor substrate. The capacitor structure is fabricated by forming a cavity in a shallow trench isolation region, thereby exposing a sidewall region of the substrate below the upper surface of the substrate. A dielectric layer is formed over the upper surface and the sidewall region of the substrate. A polysilicon layer is formed over the dielectric layer and patterned to form a capacitor electrode of the capacitor structure that extends over the upper surface and the sidewall region of the substrate. The capacitor electrode is partially recessed below the upper surface of the substrate. The polysilicon layer is also patterned to form the gate electrode of the access transistor.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of commonly owned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/033,690, “DRAM CELL HAVING A CAPACITOR STRUCTUREFABRICATED PARTIALLY IN A CAVITY AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SAME”, byWinyu Leung and Fu-Chieh Hsu, filed Nov. 2, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No.6,573,598 which is a continuation-in-part of commonly owned U.S. Ser.No. 09/772,434, filed Jan. 29, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,468,855,“REDUCED TOPOGRAPHY DRAM CELL FABRICATED USING A MODIFIED LOGIC PROCESSAND METHOD FOR OPERATING SAME”, by Wingyu Leung and Fu-Chieh Hsu, whichis a continuation in part of commonly owned U.S. Ser. No. 09/427,383filed Oct. 25, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,509,595, “DRAM CELL FABRICATEDUSING A MODIFIED LOGIC PROCESS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SAME” by WingyuLeung and Fu-Chieh Hsu, which is a continuation in part of commonlyowned U.S. Ser. No. 09/332,757, filed Jun. 14, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No.6,147,914, “ON-CHIP WORD LINE VOLTAGE GENERATION FOR DRAM EMBEDDED INLOGIC PROCESS” by Wingyu Leung and Fu-Chieh Hsu, which is acontinuation-in-part of commonly owned U.S. Ser. No. 09/134,488, filedAug. 14, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,720, “MEMORY CELL FOR DRAMEMBEDDED IN LOGIC” by Wingyu Leung and Fu-Chieh Hsu.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to Dynamic Random Accessible Memory(DRAM). Moreover, the present invention relates to DRAM fabricated byslightly modifying a conventional logic process. This invention furtherrelates to the on-chip generation of precision voltages for theoperation of DRAM embedded or fabricated using a conventional logicprocess.

2. Related Art

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a conventional DRAM cell 100 that isfabricated using a conventional logic process. FIG. 1B is a crosssectional view of DRAM cell 100. As used herein, a conventional logicprocess is defined as a semiconductor fabrication process that uses onlyone layer of polysilicon and provides for either a single-well ortwin-well structure. DRAM cell 100 consists of a p-channel MOS accesstransistor 1 having a gate terminal 9 connected to word line 3, a drainterminal 17 connected to bit line 5, and a source terminal 18 connectedto the gate 11 of a p-channel MOS transistor 2. The connection betweensource terminal 18 and the gate 11 undesirably increases the layout areaof DRAM cell 100. P-channel transistor 2 is configured to operate as acharge storage capacitor. The source and drain 19 of transistor 2 arecommonly connected. The source, drain and channel of transistor 2 areconnected to receive a fixed plate bias voltage V_(pp). The V_(pp)voltage is a positive boosted voltage that is higher than the positivesupply voltage V_(dd) by more than a transistor threshold voltage V_(t).

As used herein, the electrode of the charge storage capacitor is definedas the node coupled to the access transistor, and the counter-electrodeof the charge storage capacitor is defined as the node coupled toreceive a fixed plate bias voltage. Thus, in DRAM cell 100, the gate 11of transistor 2 forms the electrode of the charge storage capacitor, andthe channel region of transistor 2 forms the counter-electrode of thecharge storage capacitor.

To improve soft-error-rate sensitivity of DRAM cell 100, the cell isfabricated in an n-well region 14, which is located in a p-typesubstrate 8. To minimize the sub-threshold leakage of access transistor1, n-well 14 is biased at the V_(pp) voltage (at n-type contact region21). However, such a well bias increases the junction leakage. As aresult, the bias voltage of n-well 14 is selected such that thesub-threshold leakage is reduced without significantly increasing thejunction leakage. When storing charge in the storage capacitor, bit line5 is brought to the appropriate level (i.e., V_(dd) or V_(ss)) and wordline 3 is activated to turn on access transistor 1. As a result, theelectrode of the storage capacitor is charged. To maximize the storedcharge, word line 3 is required to be driven to a negative boostedvoltage V_(bb) that is lower than the supply voltage V_(ss) minus theabsolute value of the threshold voltage (V_(tp)) of access transistor 1.

In the data retention state, access transistor 1 is turned off bydriving word line 3 to the V_(dd) supply voltage. To maximize the chargestorage of the capacitor, the counter electrode is biased at thepositive boosted voltage V_(pp). The plate voltage V_(pp) is limited bythe oxide breakdown voltage of the transistor 2 forming the chargestorage capacitor.

DRAM cell 100 and its variations are documented in U.S. Pat. No.5,600,598, entitled “Memory Cell and Wordline Driver For Embedded DRAMin ASIC Process,” by K. Skjaveland, R. Township, P. Gillingham(hereinafter referred to as “Skjaveland et al.”), and “A 768 k EmbeddedDRAM for 1.244 Gb.s ATM Switch in a 0.8 um Logic Process,” P.Gillingham, B. Hold, I. Mes, C. O'Connell, P. Schofield, K. Skjaveland,R. Torrance, T. Wojcicki, H. Chow, Digest of ISSCC, 1996, pp. 262-263(hereinafter referred to as “Gillingham et al.). Both Skjaveland et al.and Gillingham et al. describe memory cells that are contained in ann-well formed in a p-type substrate.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a word line control circuit 200including a word line driver circuit 201 and a word line boost generator202 described by Gillingham et al. Word line control circuit 200includes p-channel transistors 211-217, inverters 221-229, NAND gates231-232 and NOR gate 241, which are connected as illustrated. Word linedriver 201 includes p-channel pull up transistor 211, which enables anassociated word line to be pulled up to the V_(dd) supply voltage.P-channel pull down transistors 212-217 are provided so that the wordline can be boosted down to a negative voltage (i.e., −1.5V)substantially below the negative supply voltage V_(ss). However, thep-channel pull down transistors 212-217 have a drive capability muchsmaller (approximately half) than an NMOS transistor of similar size. Asa result, the word line turn on of Gillingham et al. is relatively slow(>10 ns). Furthermore, in the data retention state, word line driver 201only drives the word line to the V_(dd) supply voltage. As a result, thesub-threshold leakage of the access transistor in the memory cells maynot be adequately suppressed.

DRAM cells similar to DRAM cell 100 have also been formed usingn-channel transistors fabricated in a p-type well region. To maximizestored charge in such n-channel DRAM cells during memory cell access,the associated word line is driven to a voltage higher than the supplyvoltage V_(dd) plus the absolute value of the threshold voltage (V_(tn))of the access transistor. In the data retention state, the n-channelaccess transistor is turned off by driving the word line to V_(ss)supply voltage (0 Volts). To maximize the charge storage of thecapacitor in an n-channel DRAM cell, the counter electrode is biased ata plate voltage V_(bb) that is lower than the V_(ss) supply voltage.

A prior art scheme using n-channel DRAM cells includes the one describedby Hashimoto et al. in “An Embedded DRAM Module using a Dual SenseAmplifier Architecture in a Logic Process”, 1997 IEEE InternationalSolid-State Circuits Conference, pp. 64-65 and 431. A p-type substrateis used, such that the memory cells are directly in contact with thesubstrate and are not isolated by any well structure. In the describeddesign, substrate bias is not permitted. Moreover, application of anegative voltage to the word line is not applicable to ASICs thatrestrict substrate biasing to be zero. Consequently, the architectureachieves a negative gate-to-source voltage (V_(gs)) by limiting bit lineswing. The negative V_(gs) voltage reduces sub-threshold leakage in thememory cells. Hashimoto et al. fails to describe the structure of theword line driver.

It would therefore be desirable to have a word line driver circuit thatimproves the leakage currents in DRAM cells fabricated using aconventional logic process. Moreover, it would be desirable to haveimproved methods for biasing DRAM cells fabricated using a conventionallogic process.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present invention provides a memory system thatincludes a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell, a word line, and aCMOS word line driver fabricated using a conventional logic process. Ina particular variation of this embodiment, the DRAM cell includes anaccess transistor having a thin gate oxide and a capacitor structurehaving a thick gate oxide of the type typcially used in high voltage I/Odevices.

In other embodiments of the present invention, a DRAM cell is fabricatedby slightly modifying a conventional logic process. In one suchembodiment, the DRAM cell is fabricated by fabricating a crown electrodeand a plate electrode of the DRAM cell substantially in a recessed areabelow the surface of a silicon wafer. The crown and plate electrodes arefabricated prior to the formation of the gate electrode of the accesstransistor. The recessed area can be formed by etching into a buriedfield oxide layer. The recessed area in the field oxide is locatedadjacent to an exposed portion of the silicon wafer. The crown electrodeis formed over the recessed area of the field oxide and the exposedportion of the silicon wafer. Out-diffusion from the crown electrodecauses a doped contact region to be formed in the previously exposedportion of the silicon wafer. The crown electrode includes a base regionlocated at the bottom of the recessed area, and sidewalls that extend upwalls of the recessed area. A dielectric layer is located over the crownelectrode. The plate electrode is located over the dielectric layer,thereby completing the capacitor of the DRAM cell. The plate electrodeextends over the base region and the sidewalls of the crown electrode.

After the capacitor has been formed, a gate dielectric layer for theaccess transistor is thermally grown. The access transistor is thenformed over the gate dielectric using conventional logic process steps.The access transistor is positioned such that the source of the accesstransistor is continuous with the doped contact region, thereby couplingthe access transistor to the capacitor. The configuration of the storageelectrode and the plate electrode advantageously results in a DRAM cellhaving a high capacitance, a small layout area and a reduced surfacetopography. This configuration further requires only minimalmodifications to a conventional logic process. More specifically, twoadditional masking steps and two additional polysilicon layers are usedto form the capacitor. The temperature cycles associated with thecapacitor formation do not subsequently affect the formation of N+ andP+ shallow junctions or the formation of salicide during fabrication ofthe access transistor. In addition, the internal node of the capacitoris substantially free of salicide for reduced leakage current.

In a variation of this embodiment, the crown electrode and the gateelectrode are both formed from the same polysilicon layer.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the DRAM cellincludes a capacitor structure that extends into a cavity formed in afield dielectric layer, thereby giving the capacitor structure arelatively large surface area and a relatively small layout area. In oneembodiment, adding only one masking step to a conventional logicprocess, the capacitor structure is fabricated as follows. A fielddielectric layer (e.g., field oxide) is formed in a semiconductorsubstrate having a first conductivity type. The field dielectric layerextends below an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. A cavityis formed in the field dielectric layer by etching the field dielectriclayer through an opening in a mask. The cavity extends below the uppersurface of the substrate. A threshold adjustment implant can then beoptionally performed through the opening of the same mask, therebyforming a threshold adjustment region in the substrate. The thresholdadjustment region extends along the upper surface of the substrate, andalong the exposed surface of the cavity.

The mask is removed and a gate dielectric layer is formed over theresulting structure. The standard polysilicon gate layer is then formedover the gate dielectric layer, wherein a portion of the polysiliconlayer fills the inside of the cavity. The polysilicon layer is thenpatterned to form a capacitor electrode of the capacitor structure, anda gate electrode of the access transistor. The capacitor electrode has asection that extends over the upper surface of the substrate, and asection that extends into the cavity. In one embodiment, the gatedielectric layer can have different compositions under the gateelectrode and under the capacitor electrode.

The word line driver is controlled to selectively provide a positiveboosted voltage and a negative boosted voltage to the word line, therebycontrolling access to the DRAM cell.

A positive boosted voltage generator is provided to generate thepositive boosted voltage, such that the positive boosted voltage isgreater than the V_(dd) supply voltage but less than the V_(dd) supplyvoltage plus one diode voltage drop (V_(j)) of about 0.6 Volts.

Similarly, a negative boosted voltage generator is provided to generatethe negative boosted voltage, such that the negative boosted voltage isless than the V_(ss) supply voltage, but greater than the V_(SS) supplyvoltage minus one diode voltage drop (V_(j)) of about 0.6 Volts.

A coupling circuit is provided between the word line driver and one ofthe positive or negative boosted voltage generators. For example, if theDRAM cell is constructed from PMOS transistors, then the couplingcircuit couples the word line driver to the negative boosted word linegenerator. When the DRAM cell is being accessed, the coupling circuitcouples the word line driver to the negative boosted voltage, therebyturning on the p-channel access transistor of the DRAM cell.

Conversely, if the DRAM cell is constructed from NMOS transistors, thenthe coupling circuit couples the word line driver to the positiveboosted word line generator. When the DRAM cell is being accessed, thecoupling circuit couples the word line driver to the positive boostedvoltage, thereby turning on the n-channel access transistor of the DRAMcell.

The positive boosted voltage generator includes a charge pump controlcircuit that limits the positive boosted voltage to a voltage less thanV_(dd) plus one diode voltage drop, V_(j). Similarly, the negativeboosted voltage generator includes a charge pump control circuit thatlimits the negative boosted voltage to a voltage greater than V_(ss)minus one diode voltage drop, V_(j). In a particular embodiment, thepositive boosted voltage and the negative boosted voltage are referencedto transistor threshold voltages.

In deep sub-micron logic processes having transistors with gate lengthsequal to or less than 0.15 microns, the threshold voltage of the thinoxide transistors is less than 0.5 Volts. This threshold voltage is lessthan the P-N junction voltage of about 0.6 Volts. During a restore orwrite operation, the negative boosted voltage is applied to the gate ofthe access transistor (i.e., the cell word line) through an n-channeldriver transistor, which is formed in a p-type substrate. The negativeboosted voltage helps to charge the storage capacitor to a voltagesubstantially close to the V_(ss) supply voltage during the restore orwrite operation. Theoretically, the negative boosted voltage should beat least one p-channel threshold voltage (plus the additional thresholdvoltage shift due to body effect) below V_(ss) to charge the electrodeof the storage capacitor to a voltage equal to V_(ss). However, in alogic process where the p-substrate is biased at the V_(ss) potential,applying a bias equal to or less than 0.6 V to the source of then-channel driver transistor will cause the N+ source junction of then-channel transistor to turn on. As a result, large substrate currentwill flow from the negative boosted voltage generator to the substrate,thereby wasting power and increasing the possibility of latch-up. It isimportant to choose the absolute voltage of a negative boosted voltageto be substantially equal to the absolute value of the threshold voltageof a p-channel transistor (V_(tp)), but smaller than the turn on voltageof a P-N junction. For example, a negative boosted voltage between 0.3and 0.4 Volts may be used in processes having a V_(tp) of 0.5 Volts orless.

The present invention will be more fully understood in view of thefollowing description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a conventional DRAM memory cell formedby p-channel MOS transistors fabricated using a conventional logicprocess.

FIG. 1B is a cross sectional diagram of the DRAM memory cell of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a conventional word line controlcircuit, including a word line driver and a word line voltage generator.

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of a DRAM memory cell that is supplied byvoltage sources in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 3B and 3C are cross sectional views of the DRAM memory cell ofFIG. 3A in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3D is a layout view of the DRAM memory cell of FIG. 3A inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3E-3F are cross sectional views of the DRAM memory cell of FIG. 3Ain accordance with other embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 3G-3R are cross sectional views of a DRAM cell in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention during various stages offabrication.

FIG. 3S is a layout view roughly corresponding to the DRAM cell of FIG.3R in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A-4J are cross sectional views of a DRAM cell in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention during various stages offabrication.

FIGS. 4K-4V are cross sectional views of a DRAM cell in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention during various stages offabrication.

FIGS. 4W-4X are layout views of arrays containing the DRAM cell of FIG.4V in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 4Y-4AA are cross sectional views of a DRAM cell in accordance withyet another embodiment of the present invention during various stages offabrication.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a word line driver in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a word line driver system thatincludes a first plurality of word line drivers, a second plurality ofV_(SSB) coupling circuits, a V_(CCB) voltage generator and a V_(BBS)voltage generator in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a V_(SSB) coupling circuit inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram illustrating various signals generatedduring the operation of the V_(SSB) coupling circuit of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9A is a block diagram of V_(CCB) and V_(SSB) boosted voltagegenerators in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9B is a simplified schematic diagram of a charge pump controlcircuit used in a conventional positive boosted voltage generator.

FIG. 9C is a simplified schematic diagram of a charge pump controlcircuit used in a conventional negative boosted voltage generator.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a V_(CCB) charge pump control circuitin accordance with the one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a V_(BBS) charge pump control circuitin accordance with the one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 12-17 are schematic diagrams of reference current sources inaccordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a word line driver and a V_(BBC)voltage coupling circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention that uses NMOS transistors to form the DRAM cells.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Except where specifically noted, the following describes the voltagesand biasing of a DRAM memory fabricated using a conventional logicprocess which is a single or twin well process with a singlepolycrystalline silicon layer and one or more layers of metal. In thedescribed examples, the positive supply voltage is designated as supplyvoltage V_(dd). In general, the positive supply voltage V_(dd) can havea nominal value such as 3.3 Volts, 2.5 Volts, 1.8 Volts, etc., dependingon the fabrication process. The ground supply voltage, having a nominalvalue of 0 Volts, is designated as supply voltage V_(ss). A diode drop(or P-N junction) voltage, having a nominal value of about 0.6 Volts, isdesignated V_(j).

As shown in FIG. 3A, a DRAM memory cell used in one embodiment consistsof a p-channel access transistor 301 and a p-channel storage transistor302 that is configured as a storage capacitor. The gate of the accesstransistor 301 is connected to word line 303 and the drain of accesstransistor 301 is connected to bit line 305. The source of accesstransistor 301 is coupled to the source region of transistor 302. In thedescribed embodiment, only the source region of transistor 302 isactually formed (i.e., there is no drain region of transistor 302). Inanother embodiment, both the source and drain regions are formed, andthese regions are commonly connected to the source of access transistor301. The channel of transistor 302 forms the electrode of the storagecapacitor, and the gate of transistor 302 forms the counter-electrode ofthe storage capacitor. The channel of storage transistor 302 (i.e., theelectrode of the storage capacitor) is coupled to the source of accesstransistor 301. The gate of transistor 302 (i.e., the counter-electrodeof the storage capacitor) is connected to receive a negative boostedbias voltage V_(bb1). The bias voltage V_(bb1) is limited by thebreak-down voltage (V_(bd)) of the gate oxide of capacitor 302 and thehighest voltage (V₁) stored on the electrode. In general, bias voltageV_(bb1) is set to a voltage that is greater than V₁ minus V_(bd). In thepreferred embodiment, V₁ is equal to the positive supply voltage V_(dd),and bias voltage V_(bb1) is set to −0.3 Volts.

In general, the bias voltage V_(bb1) is selected to have a magnitudeless than one diode voltage drop. That is, the bias voltage V_(bb1) isselected to have a magnitude less than about 0.6 Volts. The negativebias voltage V_(bb1) linearizes the operation of storage capacitor 302by increasing the capacitance of capacitor 302 when the electrode ischarged to the V_(dd) supply voltage. Without the negative plate biasV_(bb1), the capacitance of capacitor 302 tends to decrease rapidly asthe voltage across the capacitor becomes smaller than the thresholdvoltage of the MOS structure.

As illustrated in FIG. 3B, DRAM memory cell 300 is contained in ann-doped well 304 of a p-type monocrystalline silicon substrate 306.Multiple memory cells can share the same n-well 304. N-well 304 isbiased to a boosted positive voltage (V_(pp1)) that is greater than theV_(dd) supply voltage by a voltage that is approximately equal to theabsolute value of the threshold voltage (V_(tp)) of p-channel accesstransistor 301. In addition, the boosted positive voltage V_(pp1), isselected to be lower than the oxide break down voltage of p-channelaccess transistor 301. N-well 304 is biased by a connection to n-typecontact region 315. In the present embodiment, the V_(pp1), voltage iscontrolled to be approximately 0.3 Volts greater than the V_(dd) supplyvoltage (i.e., V_(tp)=0.3 Volts). Applying the V_(pp1) voltage to n-well304 decreases the sub-threshold leakage of access transistor 301, andminimizes the possibility of forward biasing the junction between theelectrode of capacitor 302 and n-well 304 due to supply noise. However,applying the V_(pp1) voltage to n-well 304 also increases the junctionleakage at the electrode of storage capacitor 302, especially at highervoltages.

When data is written to memory cell 300, bit line 305 is coupled to theV_(dd) supply voltage to write a logic zero data value, or to the V_(ss)supply voltage to write a logic one data value. In addition, word line303 is coupled to receive a word line voltage V_(SSB), which has apotential of about −0.3 Volts. In accordance with one embodiment, theV_(SSB) voltage level is chosen to be −0.2 Volts to −0.5 Volts, ascompared to −1.0 Volts or more negative in a traditional DRAMimplementation. This is greater than the V_(ss) supply voltage minus onediode voltage drop. Generation of the V_(SSB) voltage is described inmore detail below.

When memory cell 300 is in the data retention state, bit line 305 ispre-charged to a voltage of about one half the V_(dd) supply voltage.Sub-threshold leakage of memory cell 300 tends to be higher when bitline 305 or the electrode of capacitor 302 is at a potential close tothe V_(dd) supply voltage. This sub-threshold leakage is more severe forsub-micron transistors because of their lower threshold voltages (e.g.,V_(tp)=−0.5 Volts or less). To reduce the sub-threshold leakage duringthe data retention state, word line 303 is coupled to an internallygenerated positive boosted voltage (V_(CCB)) which has a potential about0.3 Volts greater than the V_(dd) supply voltage. In accordance with oneembodiment, the V_(CCB) voltage level is chosen to be 0.2 Volts to 0.5Volts greater than the V_(dd) supply voltage. This is less than theV_(dd) supply voltage plus one diode voltage drop. This is differentfrom the conventional memory cells described above, in which the wordline is coupled to the V_(dd) supply voltage during the data retentionstate. Generation of the positive boosted voltage V_(CCB) is describedin more detail below.

P-channel access transistor 301 and p-channel storage transistor 302 ofFIG. 3B include thin gate dielectric layers 307 and 308, respectively.These thin gate dielectric layers are typically used for fabricating theinternal logic of an integrated circuit. For example, in a 0.18 micronlogic process, thin gate dielectric layer 307 and 308 typically have athickness of about 2.5 to 4.0 nm.

For deep sub-micron MOS devices having gate lengths less than 0.15microns and gate oxide thicknesses less than 30 Angstroms, the gatetunneling current through the MOS storage transistor 302 becomessignificant (i.e., greater than 5 pA). Such a gate tunneling currentthrough the storage transistor reduces the stored charge, and thereforesignificantly increases the required refresh rate of the memory cell.Because the gate tunneling current increases exponentially with thedecrease in gate oxide thickness, it is desirable to use a thick oxidedevice for the storage transistor 302, thereby reducing the tunnelingcurrent and maintaining a reasonable refresh period in the memory cell.

Thus, in another embodiment of the present invention, which isillustrated in FIG. 3C, the thin gate oxide layer 308 of the capacitorstructure is replaced with a thick gate oxide layer 308A. Thick gateoxide layer 308A is available in a conventional dual-oxide logicprocess. Dual-oxide logic processes are commonly used to fabricatesemiconductor circuits that use both high performance thin oxidetransistors and high voltage thick oxide transistors. The highperformance thin gate oxide transistors are used to construct themajority of the functional blocks, and the thick gate oxide transistorsare used to construct I/O circuits and special functional blocks thatrequire higher voltage compliance. The thick gate oxide transistors aretherefore not conventionally used to form storage transistors(capacitors) of a DRAM cell.

Because the thick gate oxide layer is available in the conventional dualoxide logic process, no additional processing steps are required tofabricate thick gate oxide layer 308A. Optionally, the thick oxide layer308A can also be formed separately using an additional masking step, sothat this layer can be thinner than the I/O oxide layer (which has athickness of typically 50 to 70 Angstroms). The thick gate oxide layer308A is significantly thicker than the thin gate oxide layer 307. Forexample, in a 0.13 micron logic process, the thick gate oxide layer 308Ahas a thickness of about 25-50 Angstroms and the thin gate oxide layer307 has a thickness of about 15-20 Angstroms. In one embodiment, thickoxide layer 308A will be about 20 percent thicker than thin gate oxidelayer 307. Thick gate dielectric oxide 308A advantageously reduces thetunneling current through p-channel storage transistor 302.

In an alternate embodiment, a shallow cavity or recessed region isformed underneath gate oxide layer 308 or 308A using an additionalmasking step to increase the surface area of gate oxide layer 308 or308A and thereby increase the resulting capacitance. An example of thisalternate embodiment is illustrated in more detail below in FIGS. 3G-3S.

FIG. 3D shows the layout of memory cell 300 in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. The connection to bit line 305 isshared between two neighboring cells, and the upper plate 313 ofcapacitor 302 connects two rows of adjacent cells parallel to thewordline. The capacitors of adjacent cells are electrically isolatedthrough field oxide (FOX) region 314, e.g., at the minimum spacingallowed by the design rules. Because capacitor plate 313 is biased atthe V_(bb1) level to allow the maximum turn-on of the p-channelcapacitor, a worse case biasing exists over field oxide (FOX) 314 withmaximum leakage current that can flow between neighboring cell storagenodes. To minimize such field leakage current, the capacitor plate 313is allowed to cross-over field oxide 314 only along diagonal corners ofadjacent storage nodes. This forces the possible leakage path betweenadjacent cells to be 1.414 times the minimum FOX isolation spacing, andat the same time reduces the portion of the storage node perimeter (atminimum spacing) that is adversely gated by the capacitor plate 313 tobe less than 25% of the total storage node perimeter (which is thechannel region of capacitor 302) and thereby minimizes possible leakagecurrent.

FIG. 3E shows an enlarged cross-section view of p-channel accesstransistor 301 and p-channel capacitor 302 in accordance with anotherembodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the normalp-type heavy source/drain implant and the source/drain salicidation areexcluded from the p-type connecting region 312. This arrangement reducesjunction leakage current as well as gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL)that can degrade the charge retention time of the storage node. In aconventional logic process, the formation of a p-channel transistorusually follows the sequence of (i) patterning and etching thepolysilicon gate, (ii) using ion implantation to lightly dope thesource/drain regions right at the gate edges, thereby forming p-LDDregions, (iii) forming insulating sidewall spacers, (iv) formingsalicide (self-aligned silicide) on the exposed silicon surfaces, and(v) using ion implantation to heavily dope the source/drain regions onthe exposed silicon surfaces, thereby forming p-S/D regions. Thetwo-step formation of the p-LDD and p-S/D regions provide for highconduction current and good leakage current control at the same time.The p-S/D region is usually much more heavily doped to have lowresistivity than the p-LDD region. As a result, the junction breakdownvoltage is lower and leakage current of the p-S/D region is much higherthan that of the p-LDD region. The source/drain salicide reduces thesource/drain resistivity further but also degrades the junction leakagefurther. Therefore, it is important to exclude as much heavy p-typedoping and salicide formation in the storage node (i.e., region 312) aspossible.

In the present invention, region 312 is laid out with minimumpolysilicon gate spacing, which is comparable to twice the size of theinsulating sidewall spacers 325. With this layout arrangement, p-S/Ddoping and salicide are effectively excluded from region 312 withoutneed for additional processing steps.

As illustrated in FIG. 3F, thin gate dielectric layer 307 is formedunder gate electrode 303 of the access transistor, while a thick gatedielectric layer 308A is formed under capacitor structure 313 in anotherembodiment of the present invention.

The DRAM cells of FIGS. 3A-3E may similarly be implemented using ann-channel access transistor and capacitor, provided that these elementsare fabricated in a p-doped well located in either an n-doped substrateor in a deep n-doped well of a p-doped substrate.

FIGS. 3G-3R are cross sectional views of a DRAM cell 3000 in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention during various stagesof fabrication. As described in more detail below, DRAM cell 3000 isfabricated by adding a single masking step to a conventional logicprocess. FIG. 3S illustrates the layout of DRAM cell 3000, along withseveral adjacent DRAM cells in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention. In this embodiment, the memory cell capacitor surfacearea is increased by creating a recessed region in a field dielectriclayer before forming the gate electrode. The increased capacitance valueallows for a smaller memory cell area.

As illustrated in FIG. 3G, following a conventional logic process flow,an n-type well region 3011 is formed in a p-type monocrystalline siliconsubstrate 3010. In the described example, substrate 3010 has a <1,0,0>crystalline orientation and a dopant concentration of about 1×10¹⁶/cm³.N-well 3011, which is formed by a conventional process step such as ionimplantation, has a dopant concentration of about 1×10¹⁷/cm³. Othercrystal orientations and concentrations can be used in other embodimentsof the invention. In addition, the conductivity types of the variousregions can be reversed in other embodiments with similar results.

In the described embodiment, field dielectric layer 3022 is formed usingshallow trench isolation (STI) techniques. In STI techniques, trenchesare etched in silicon substrate 3010, and these trenches are then filledwith a dielectric, such as silicon oxide. The upper surface of theresulting structure is then planarized by chemical-mechanical polishing(CMP), such that the upper surface of field dielectric layer 3022 issubstantially co-planar with the upper surface of n-well 3011. In thedescribed embodiment, the crystalline structure of substrate 3010 causesthe trench sidewalls to exhibit angles of about 80 degrees.

Buffer oxide layer 3021 is either retained from the STI processing stepor thermally grown over the upper surface of the resulting structure. Inthe described embodiment, oxide layer 3021 is silicon oxide having athickness in the range of about 5 to 20 nm. However, this thickness canvary depending on the process being used.

The non-standard processing steps, which are not included in aconventional logic process are now performed. Photoresist mask 3023,having opening 3024, is formed over buffer oxide layer 3021 using wellknown processing techniques. Opening 3024 is located partially overn-well 3011 and partially over field dielectric layer 3022.

As illustrated in FIG. 3H, an etch is performed through the opening 3024of photoresist mask 3023, thereby removing the exposed portion of oxidelayer 3021. The etch also removes an exposed portion of field dielectriclayer 3022, thereby creating a cavity 3025 in field dielectric 3022. Atthe end of the etch, field dielectric layer 3022 has a thickness T1under cavity 3025 in the range of about 50 to 200 nm. The etchant ishighly selective to silicon, such that n-type well 3011 is notsubstantially removed during the etch. In one embodiment, this etch is atimed etch.

As illustrated by FIG. 3I, an optional p−-type ion implant is performedthrough opening 3024 of photoresist mask 3023. In one embodiment, boronis implanted at a dosage of 2×10¹³/cm² and an energy of 10-15 KeV. Thep−-type implant results in capacitor region 3026. Capacitor region 3026makes the threshold voltage under the subsequently formed capacitorstructure more positive, such that the capacitor structure can be turnedon more easily.

As illustrated in FIG. 3J, photoresist mask 3023 and buffer oxide layer3021 are stripped, and gate dielectric layer 3030 is then formed overthe upper surface of the resulting structure. In the describedembodiment, gate dielectric layer 3030 is thermally grown silicon oxidehaving a thickness in the range of about 1.5 to 5 nm. However, thisthickness can vary depending on the process being used. In the describedembodiment, the same gate dielectric layer 3030 is used for both thegate oxide of the access transistor and the dielectric layer of thecapacitor. However, in other embodiments, different layers can be usedto form the gate dielectric layer and the capacitor dielectric layer.For example, the capacitor dielectric layer can be fabricated to bethicker than the gate dielectric layer. In another example, thecapacitor dielectric layer can be formed from silicon nitride or acombination of silicon oxide and silicon nitride, while the dielectriclayer is formed only from silicon oxide. The gate dielectric layer 3030can either be the same gate dielectric layer used in logic transistorsfabricated outside the memory array, or different in thickness and/orcomposition from the gate dielectric layer used in these logictransistors.

From this point forward, the conventional logic process is resumed. Alayer of polycrystalline silicon 3031 having a thickness in the range ofabout 100 to 300 nm is deposited over the resulting structure.Polysilicon layer 3031 substantially fills cavity 3025.

As illustrated in FIG. 3K, a photoresist mask 3032 is formed overpolysilicon layer 3031. As will become apparent in view of the followingdescription, photoresist mask 3032 defines the gate electrode and thecapacitor electrode of memory cell 3000. As illustrated in FIG. 3L,polysilicon layer 3031 is etched through photoresist mask 3032, therebyforming gate electrode layer 3031A, capacitor electrode 3031B andpolysilicon section 3031C. A portion of capacitor electrode 3031Bremains in cavity 3025. By forming portions of capacitor electrode 3031Bon the sidewall of cavity 3025, the area of incidence between capacitorelectrode 3031B and capacitor region 3026 (i.e., the area of thecapacitor) is made relatively large, while the required layout area ofcapacitor electrode 3031B is made relatively small.

As illustrated in FIG. 3M, photoresist mask 3032 is stripped, and a p−type ion implant is performed onto the resulting structure. As a result,lightly doped p− type drain region 3033 and lightly doped p− type sourceregion 3034 are formed in n-well 3011. P-type source region 3034 iscontinuous with capacitor region 3026. In addition, polysilicon regions3031A-3031C receive p-type impurities during this implant.

As illustrated in FIG. 3N, sidewall spacers 3035 are formed on theresulting structure. Sidewall spacers 3035 are formed using aconventional fabrication process. For example, sidewall spacers 3035 canbe formed by depositing a silicon nitride layer over the resultingstructure, an then performing an anisotropic etch on the silicon nitridelayer using conventional processing techniques. After the anisotropicetch is complete, silicon nitride spacers 3035 remain.

After silicon nitride sidewall spacers 3035 have been formed, a P+photoresist mask (not shown) is formed to define the locations of thedesired P+ regions on the chip. A P+ type ion implant is then performed,thereby forming P+ drain region 3036 (as well as the other desired P+regions on the substrate). Note that P+ drain region 3036 is alignedwith the edge of the left-most sidewall spacer 3035 in FIG. 3N. The P+type ion implant further dopes polysilicon regions 3031A-3031C. Sidewallspacers 3035 prevent the P+ impurity from being implanted in lightlydoped source region 3034. Optionally, the P+ photoresist mask (notshown) can include a portion that prevents the P+ impurity from beingimplanted into lightly doped source region 3034. An annealing thermalcycle is subsequently performed to activate the implanted impurities inregions 3033, 3034 and 3036.

Turning now to FIG. 30, a salicide-blocking dielectric layer 3037 (e.g.,silicon oxide) is deposited over the resulting structure. Asalicide-blocking photoresist mask 3038 is formed over dielectric layer3037. Mask 3038 is patterned to expose p+ type drain region 3036, aportion of gate electrode layer 3031A, and a portion of polysiliconregion 3031C.

As shown in FIG. 3P, dielectric layer 3037 is etched, thereby removingthe portions of dielectric layer 3037 exposed by mask 3038. Morespecifically, p+ drain region 3036, the left portion of polysilicon gateelectrode layer 3031A, and the right portion of polysilicon region 3031Care exposed.

As illustrated in FIG. 3Q, mask 3038 is stripped and a refractory metallayer 3039, such as titanium or cobalt, is deposited over the resultingstructure. In the described embodiment, titanium is deposited to athickness of about 30 nm. An anneal is subsequently performed, therebycausing the refractory metal layer 3039 to react with underlying siliconregions to form metal silicide regions. In FIG. 3Q, the only siliconregions underlying refractory metal layer 3039 are the p+ drain region3036, the left portion of polysilicon gate electrode layer 3031A, andthe right portion of polysilicon region 3031C.

The unreacted portions of refractory metal layer 3039 are then removed,as illustrated in FIG. 3R. Metal silicide regions 3041, 3042 and 3043are formed over p+ drain region 3036, the left portion of polysilicongate electrode 3031A and the right portion of polysilicon region 3031C.It is preferable to block silicide formation from areas where leakagecurrent should be minimized, namely, source region 3034 and optionally,polysilicon capacitor electrode 3031B. Note that dielectric layer 3037prevents silicide from being formed in these locations.

The resulting DRAM cell 3000 is illustrated in FIG. 3R. The accesstransistor of DRAM cell 3000 is located in region 3051, and thecapacitor structure of DRAM cell 3000 is located in region 3052. Thecapacitor structure has a relatively large surface area because thecapacitor structure is formed in cavity 3025 in field oxide 3022. Thisrelatively large surface area results in a relatively large capacitancefor the capacitor structure. However, the capacitor structure consumes arelatively small layout area because the capacitor structure is formedpartially in cavity 3025. Advantageously, DRAM cell 3000 can befabricated by making small modifications to a conventional logicprocess.

FIG. 3S is a top view of an array of DRAM cells, including DRAM cell3000. Note that the view illustrated in FIG. 3R roughly corresponds withthe view defined by section line A-A′ of FIG. 3S. Contacts, whichprovide connections between the drain of an access transistor and a bitline, are illustrated as boxes containing X's in FIG. 3S. Thus, contact3050 provides a connection from drain region 3036 to bit line 305 (notshown, see, FIG. 3A). Contact 3050 also provides a connection to thedrain region of a symmetric DRAM cell located to the left of DRAM cell3000. In this manner, one contact provides a connection to two DRAMcells in an array.

Drain region 3036 and source region 3034 are separated by gate electrode3031A. The location of mask 3024, which defines the boundary ofcapacitor region 3026, is illustrated in FIG. 3S. Heavy line 3070, whichhas a hammerhead shape, defines the sidewall of cavity 3025. Cavity 3025is located outside of hammerhead-shaped line 3070, but within theboundary defined by mask 3024. Thus, the portion of capacitor electrode3031B located inside of the hammerhead-shaped line 3070 is located at ahigher elevation than the portion of capacitor electrode 3031B locatedoutside of hammerhead-shaped line 3070. The area of capacitor electrode3031B is maximized by extending over the sidewall defined by line 3070.Note that capacitor electrode 3031B may extend to adjacent DRAM cells,as in the example illustrated in FIG. 3S.

FIGS. 4A-4J are cross sectional views of a DRAM cell 40 in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention during various stagesof fabrication. In general, DRAM cell 40 includes a capacitor structurehaving a crown and plate configuration, which is formed using twoadditional polysilicon layers. These additional polysilicon layers areformed prior to the formation of N+ and P+ shallow junctions and priorto the formation of salicide. Using two additional polysilicon layersenables the formation of a smaller capacitor structure and therefore asmaller DRAM cell.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, an n-type well region 42 is formed in ap-type monocrystalline silicon substrate 41. In the described example,substrate 41 has a <1,0,0> crystalline orientation and a dopantconcentration of about 1×10¹⁶/cm³. N-well 42, which is formed byconventional process steps such as ion implantation, has a dopantconcentration of about 1×10¹⁷/cm³. Other crystal orientations andconcentrations can be used in other embodiments of the invention. Inaddition, the conductivity types of the various regions can be reversedin other embodiments with similar results.

In the described embodiment, field oxide 45 is formed using shallowtrench isolation (STI) techniques. In STI techniques, trenches areetched in silicon substrate 41, and these trenches are then filled withsilicon oxide. The upper surface of the resulting structure is thenplanarized by chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP), such that the uppersurface of field oxide 45 is substantially co-planar with the uppersurface of n-well 42.

Gate oxide 46 is then thermally grown over the upper surface of theresulting structure. In the described embodiment, gate oxide 46 issilicon oxide having a thickness in the range of about 1.5 to 6.0 nm.However, this thickness can vary depending on the process being used.

A layer of polycrystalline silicon is deposited over the resultingstructure. This polysilicon layer is then patterned to form polysilicongate electrode 47. A P− implant mask (not shown) is then formed, andBoron diflouride (BF₂) is implanted at a dosage of about 1×10¹⁴/cm² andan implant energy of about 15 KeV. Note that the Boron implantation isself-aligned with the edges of polysilicon gate electrode 47.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, a layer of silicon nitride 48 is thendeposited over the resulting structure. In the described embodiment,silicon nitride 48 is deposited to a thickness of about 150 nm usingconventional processing techniques. In a particular embodiment, a thinlayer (˜20 nm) of oxide is provided under silicon nitride layer 48 toreduce stress. A thick layer of silicon oxide 49 is then deposited oversilicon nitride layer 49. In the described embodiment, silicon oxidelayer 49 has a thickness of about 1200 nm and is formed usingconventional processing techniques.

An opening 60 is formed through silicon oxide layer 49, silicon nitridelayer 48 and gate oxide 46. In the described embodiment, opening 60 hasa cylindrical shape, with the cylinder having a diameter of about 250nm. In other embodiments, opening 60 can have other shapes and sizes.Opening 60 is positioned to expose a portion of p-type source region 44.

Opening 60 is created by forming a photoresist mask (not shown) oversilicon oxide layer 49, and etching through an opening in thephotoresist mask that defines the location and shape of opening 60.

The photoresist mask is stripped, and conductively doped polysiliconlayer 50 is formed over the resulting structure. In the describedembodiment, polysilicon layer 50 is formed by depositing a layer ofpolysilicon to a thickness of about 50 nm. Polysilicon layer 50 is thenconductively doped by ion implanting a p-type impurity, such as borondiflouride (BF₂), into the polysilicon. Alternatively, polysilicon layer50 can be doped in situ during deposition. Polysilicon layer 50 extendsinto opening 60 and contacts p-type source region 44 as illustrated.

As illustrated in FIG. 4C, the upper surface of the resulting structureis planarized. In the described embodiment, a conventionalchemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) process is used to perform thisplanarization step. In general, the planarization step removes theportion of polysilicon layer 50 that is not deposited in opening 60, aswell as an upper portion of silicon oxide layer 49. After theplanarization step has been performed, a polysilicon crown 51 remains inopening 60. Polysilicon crown 51 includes a substantially planar baseregion 51A that contacts p-type source region 44 (and field oxide 45).Polysilicon crown 51 also includes vertical walls 51B that extendvertically upward from base region 51A.

As illustrated in FIG. 4D, oxide layer 49 is then removed using anetchant that removes silicon oxide much faster than silicon nitride.This etch step is timed, such that the etchant removes silicon oxidelayer 49 without significantly removing silicon nitride layer 48. In thedescribed embodiment, this etchant is buffered or unbufferedhydrofluoric acid. After silicon oxide layer 49 has been removed,polysilicon crown 51 remains, with vertical walls 51B rising abovesilicon nitride layer 48. In the described embodiment, the walls 51B ofpolysilicon crown 51 extend about 800 nm above silicon niride layer 48.

As illustrated in FIG. 4E, an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) structure 52 isformed over polysilicon crown 51. This ONO structure 52 is formed bydepositing a first silicon oxide layer, a silicon nitride layer, andthen a second silicon oxide layer. In the described embodiment, thefirst silicon oxide layer has a thickness of about 2 nm, the siliconnitride layer has a thickness of about 7 nm, and the second siliconoxide layer has a thickness of about 2 nm. These layers are depositedusing well known processing techniques. Relatively high thermal cyclesare required to form the various layers of ONO structure 52. Forexample, a total thermal cycle in the range of 850-950° C. for 20-60minutes is required to form ONO structure 52. As understood by one ofordinary skill in the art, thermal cycles are a function of bothtemperature and time.

As illustrated in FIG. 4F, a conductively doped layer of polysilicon 53is formed over ONO structure 52. In the described embodiment,polysilicon layer 53 is deposited to a thickness of about 150 nm.Polysilicon layer 53 is then conductively doped by ion implanting ap-type impurity, such as boron, into the polysilicon. Alternatively,polysilicon layer 53 can be doped in situ during deposition.

Turning now to FIG. 4G, a photoresist mask 54 is formed over polysiliconlayer 53 as illustrated. Photoresist mask 54 is located over polysiliconcrown 51 and the immediately adjacent area. As illustrated in FIG. 4H, aseries of etches are performed to remove the exposed portions ofpolysilicon layer 53 and ONO layer 52. The remaining portion ofpolysilicon layer 53 forms a polysilicon plate structure 57.

Photoresist mask 54 is then removed, and a thermal cycle is performed toanneal polysilicon layers 51 and 53. During this step, the thermal cycletypically uses rapid thermal annealing (RTA) at relatively hightemperatures of 950-1050° C. for 30 to 90 seconds. By performing thesehigh thermal cycles prior to the formation of P+ and N+ shallowjunctions and prior to the formation of salicide structures, these highthermal cycles advantageously do not significantly affect thesesubsequently performed processes.

As illustrated in FIG. 4I, an anisotropic etch is performed on siliconnitride layer 48 using conventional processing techniques. After theanisotropic etch is complete, silicon nitride regions 48A-48C remain.Silicon nitride region 48A forms a sidewall spacer at one edge ofpolysilicon gate 47. Silicon nitride region 48B forms a sidewall spacerat the opposing edge of polysilicon gate 47. Silicon nitride region 48Bextends to the capacitor structure formed by polysilicon crown 51, ONOstructure 52 and polysilicon plate 53. Silicon nitride region 48C joinswith silicon nitride region 48B outside the plane of FIG. 4I, therebylaterally surrounding polysilicon crown 51.

After silicon nitride regions 48A-48C have been formed, a P+ photoresistmask (not shown) is formed to define the locations of the desired P+regions on the chip. A P+ type ion implant is then performed, therebyforming shallow P+ drain region 55 (as well as the other desired P+regions on the substrate). Note that P+ drain region 55 is aligned withthe edge of sidewall spacer 48A. In the described embodiment, the P+ ionimplant is performed at a dosage of 5×10¹⁵/cm² and an energy of lessthan 15 KeV. A short annealing thermal cycle is typically performedusing RTA at 850 to 950° C. for 10 to 15 seconds.

Turning now to FIG. 4J, a layer of refractory metal, such as titanium orcobalt, is blanket deposited over the resulting structure. In thedescribed embodiment, titanium is deposited to a thickness of about 30nm. An anneal step is then performed to form the titanium silicide atlocations where the titanium contacts silicon. More specifically, thetitanium is reacted over P+ region 55, thereby forming titanium salicideregion 56A. The titanium is also reacted over polysilicon gate 47,thereby forming titanium salicide region 56B. Finally, the titanium isreacted over polysilicon plate 53, thereby forming titanium salicideregion 56C. This anneal also further activates the P+ ions in P+ region55. In the described embodiment, this thermal cycle is usually performedusing RTA at 850 to 950° C. for 10 to 30 seconds. Note that the thermalcycles performed during the formation of the capacitor structure (i.e.,850-950° C. for 20-60 minutes; 950-1050° C. for 30 to 90 seconds) aregreater than the thermal cycles performed during the formation ofshallow drain region 55 and metal salicide regions 56A-56C (i.e., 850 to950° C. for 10 to 15 seconds; 850 to 950° C. for 10 to 30 seconds). Inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the thermalcycles performed during the formation of the shallow drain region 55 andthe metal salicide regions 56A-56C are comparable or less than thethermal cycles performed during the formation of the capacitorstructure.

An etch is then performed, thereby removing all unreacted portions ofthe titanium layer (e.g., those portions located of the titanium layerlocated over silicon nitride regions 48A-48B and field oxide 45).

The resulting DRAM cell 40 is illustrated in FIG. 4J. The accesstransistor of DRAM cell 40 is formed by drain regions 43 and 55, sourceregion 44, salicide regions 56A-56B, nitride spacers 48A-48B,polysilicon gate electrode 47 and n-well 42. The capacitor structure ofDRAM cell 40 is formed by polysilicon crown 51, ONO structure 52,polysilicon plate 57, and salicide region 56C. This capacitor structurehas a relatively large surface area between polysilicon crown 51 andpolysilicon plate 57, because plate 57 extends over both the interiorand exterior surfaces of walls 51B, as well as over base region 51A.This relatively large surface area results in a relatively largecapacitance for the capacitor structure. In addition, because thecapacitor structure is formed in a vertical manner, the capacitorconsumes a relatively small layout area.

In a conventional logic process, the ability to form good N+ and P+shallow junctions and salicide is predicated on having minimum thermalcycles after the N+ and P+ implantation and the salicide deposition. Byforming the capacitor structure, which typically uses higher thermalcycles, prior to the N+ and P+ implantation and salicide formation, theadditional thermal cycles introduced by the formation of the capacitorstructure will have minimum effects on the characteristics oftransistors fabricated after the capacitor structure.

DRAM cell 40 is biased in substantially the same manner as DRAM cell 300(FIGS. 3A-3D). Thus, salicide region 56A is connected to bit line 305,salicide region 56B is connected to word line 303, and n-well 42 iscoupled to the V_(pp1) voltage supply terminal. Salicide region 56C canbe connected to any voltage between V_(dd) and V_(ss) to maximize thecapacitance of the capacitor structure. Note that the connection ton-well 42 is formed outside the view of FIG. 4J.

FIGS. 4K-4V are cross sectional views of a DRAM cell 400 in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention during various stagesof fabrication. In general, DRAM cell 400 includes a capacitorstructure, which is formed using two more polysilicon layers than aconventional logic process. These additional polysilicon layers areformed prior to the formation of the polysilicon gate electrode of theaccess transistor.

As illustrated in FIG. 4K, an n-type well region 42 and field oxide 45is formed in a p-type monocrystalline silicon substrate 41. Theseelements have been described in detail above in connection with FIG. 4A.In the described embodiment, field oxide 45 has a depth in the range ofabout 250-400 nm. Thin oxide layer 401 is thermally grown over the uppersurface of the resulting structure. In the described embodiment, thinoxide layer 401 is silicon oxide having a thickness in the range ofabout 5 to 10 nm. However, this thickness can vary depending on theprocess being used. A layer of silicon nitride 402 is deposited overthin oxide layer 401. In the described example, silicon nitride layer402 has a thickness in the range of about 50 to 300 nm. A photoresistlayer 403 is then deposited over the resulting structure. Photoresistlayer 403 is exposed and developed, thereby creating opening 404. Asdescribed in more detail below, opening 404 defines a recessed storagearea that will contain a crown electrode and a buried contact region ofthe DRAM cell.

As illustrated in FIG. 4L, silicon nitride layer 402 and thin oxidelayer 401 are etched through opening 404, thereby removing the exposedportions of these layers 401-402. The etch also removes an exposedportion of field oxide, thereby creating a cavity 405 in field oxide 45.At the end of the etch, field oxide 45 has a thickness T1 under cavity405 in the range of about 50 to 200 nm. The etchant is highly selectiveto silicon, such that n-type well 42 is not substantially removed duringthe etch. In one embodiment, this etch is a timed etch.

As illustrated by FIG. 4M, photoresist layer 403 is stripped, and alayer of polycrystalline silicon 406 having a thickness in the range ofabout 20 to 40 nm is deposited over the resulting structure. Polysiliconlayer 406 extends into cavity 405, and contacts the exposed portion ofn-type silicon region 42.

As illustrated by FIG. 4N, a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP)polishing step is performed to remove the portions of polysilicon layer406 located over silicon nitride layer 402. As a result, a recessedcrown electrode 406A is formed. Crown electrode 406A has a lower baseportion 406L located along the bottom of cavity 405, sidewalls 406S thatextend along the sidewalls of cavity, and an upper base portion 406Uthat extends over the upper surface of the silicon substrate 42.Polysilicon layer 406 can be doped and annealed either before or afterthe CMP process is performed. In one embodiment, polysilicon layer 406is doped by implanting a p-type impurity, such as boron, into thepolysilicon. Polysilicon layer 406 is subsequently subjected to a RTA(rapid thermal anneal) at a temperature of 950-1050° C. for a durationof 20-60 seconds. Out-diffusion of the doped polysilicon layer 406occurs during the annealing step, thereby forming a p-type contactregion 407 in n-well 42, immediately adjacent to crown electrode 406A.

As illustrated in FIG. 40, the remaining portion of silicon nitridelayer 402 is stripped, and a capacitor dielectric layer 408 is depositedover the resulting structure. In the described embodiment, capacitordielectric layer 408 is a nitride layer having a thickness in the rangeof about 5 to 8 nm. After being deposited, dielectric layer 408 isoxidized and annealed with a total thermal cycle in the range of800-900° C. for 20 to 60 minutes. A second conductively dopedpolysilicon layer 409 is deposited over dielectric layer 408. In thedescribed embodiment, polysilicon layer 409 has a thickness in the rangeof about 30 to 50 nm.

As illustrated in FIG. 4P, a layer of photoresist is deposited, exposedand developed, thereby forming photoresist mask 410. The upperpolysilicon layer 409 and dielectric layer 408 are etched through thismask 410, thereby forming plate electrode 409A and capacitor dielectric408A.

As illustrated in FIG. 4Q, photoresist mask 410 is stripped and thinoxide layer 401 is subsequently removed. At this time, standard logicprocess steps are resumed. Thus, a gate dielectric layer 411 is grown bythermally oxidizing the exposed silicon surfaces. Note that dielectriclayer 411 extends over the exposed surfaces of crown electrode 406A andplate electrode 409A. A conductively doped polysilicon gate electrode412 having a thickness in the range of about 100 to 250 nm is thenformed over gate dielectric layer 411. A p-type ion implant step is thenperformed, thereby forming lightly-doped drain and source regions 413and 414, respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 4R, sidewall spacers 415 and 416 are formed usingconventional logic process steps. During the formation of sidewallspacers 415-416, gate dielectric layer 411 is removed from locations notprotected by gate electrode 412 and spacers 415-416. A p+ type ionimplant is performed, thereby forming heavily-doped drain and sourceregions 417 and 418, respectively. Note that lightly doped source region414 and heavily doped source region 418 are continuous with buriedcontact layer 407. As a result, the source of the access transistor iselectrically coupled with crown electrode 406A.

In an alternate embodiment, p− type region 414 is blocked during the p+type ion implant, so that p+ type region 418 is not formed. In thisembodiment, the junction breakdown voltage of the resulting structure isimproved. Because P+ and N+ implants are performed separately, withdifferent photoresist masks in a standard CMOS process, no additionalmasking steps are required to block p− type region 414.

A dielectric layer 419 (e.g., silicon oxide) is then deposited over theresulting structure.

As illustrated in FIG. 4S, a salicide blocking photoresist mask 420 isformed over dielectric layer 419. Mask 420 is patterned to expose p+type drain region 417 and a portion of gate electrode 412. Dielectriclayer 419 is then etched, thereby removing the portions of dielectriclayer 419 exposed by mask 420. More specifically, p+ drain region 417and the left portion of polysilicon gate 412 are exposed. Salicideblocking mask 420 is typically used in a standard logic process to blockout areas where salicide is not desired, such as I/O buffers andresistors. Thus, mask 420 is not an additional mask with respect to astandard logic process.

As illustrated in FIG. 4T, mask 420 is stripped and a refractory metallayer 421 is deposited over the resulting structure. An anneal issubsequently performed, thereby causing the refractory metal layer 421to react with underlying silicon regions to form metal silicide regions.In FIG. 4T, the only silicon regions underlying refractory metal layer421 are the p+ drain region 417 and the left portion of polysilicon gateelectrode 412.

As illustrated in FIG. 4U, metal silicide regions 422 and 423 are formedover p+ drain region 417 and the left portion of polysilicon gateelectrode 412. The unreacted portion of refractory metal layer 421 isthen removed, as illustrated in FIG. 4V. Note that metal silicide region423 is formed at least partially over gate electrode 412. It ispreferable to block silicide formation from areas where leakage currentshould be minimized, namely, source region 418, crown electrode 406A andplate electrode 409A.). Note that dielectric layer 419 prevents silicidefrom being formed over crown electrode 406A or plate electrode 409A.

Two additional masks 403 and 410 and two additional polysilicon layers406 and 409 are used to form a capacitor with a large three dimensionalsurface area and thereby higher capacitance with a smaller physicaldimension. The temperature cycles associated with capacitor formation donot affect the subsequent N+ and P+ shallow junction and salicideformation. In addition, the internal node of the capacitor is preferablyprotected and substantially free of salicide formation for reducedleakage current.

FIG. 4W illustrates the layout of memory cell 400 in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. Contacts, which provide connectionsbetween the drain of an access transistor and a bit line, areillustrated as boxes containing X's in FIG. 4W. Thus, contact 430provides a connection from drain region 417 of DRAM cell 400 to bit line305 (not shown, see, FIG. 3A). Contact 430 also provides a connection tothe drain region of a symmetric DRAM cell located to the left of DRAMcell 400. In this manner, one contact provides a connection to two DRAMcells in an array.

Bit line 305 extends along the horizontal axis of FIG. 4W, such that bitline 305 is connected to both contacts 430 and 431. Other bit lines arecoupled to other columns of DRAM cells in a similar manner.

The DRAM cell array is configured such that certain adjacent DRAM cellsin adjacent rows share the same plate electrode. For example, DRAM cell400 shares plate electrode 409A with five other DRAM cells in FIG. 4W.Plate electrode 409A extends along the vertical axis in FIG. 4W, inparallel with the word lines (e.g., gate 412). The capacitors ofadjacent cells are electrically isolated through field oxide (FOX)region 45, e.g., at the minimum spacing allowed by the design rules.Plate electrode 409A is biased at the V_(bb1) level to allow the maximumturn-on of the capacitor.

FIG. 4X illustrates the layout of memory cell 400 in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention. The layout of FIG. 4X issimilar to the layout of FIG. 4W. However, plate electrode 409A′ in FIG.4X includes a series of notches to allow better electrical connectionbetween crown electrode 406A and the source 418 of the accesstransistor.

In another embodiment, a single polysilicon layer can be used to createboth the gate electrode and the plate electrode of the memory cell. Suchan embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 4Y-4Z.

As illustrated in FIG. 4Y, a photoresist mask 430 is formed overdielectric layer 408 (before the plate electrode is deposited).Photoresist mask 430 covers crown electrode 406A. An etch is thenperformed, removing the exposed portions of dielectric layer 408 andthin oxide layer 401. At the end of this etch, the portion of n-typeregion 42 where the access transistor is to be formed is exposed. Mask430 is then stripped.

As illustrated in FIG. 4Z, gate dielectric layer 431 is then formed bythermal oxidation. This thermal oxidation does not substantially affectcapacitor dielectric layer 408, which is formed of silicon nitride. Apolysilicon layer 432 is subsequently deposited over the resultingstructure.

As illustrated in FIG. 4AA, polysilicon layer 432 is patterned andetched to form the gate electrode 432A and capacitor plate electrode432B. Processing then continues in accordance with FIGS. 4Q-4V. Theadvantage of this embodiment is a simplified process with only oneadditional masking step over a conventional logic process. The trade-offis a slightly larger spacing between the plate electrode and the gateelectrode (word line) because both are patterned from the samepolysilicon layer.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a word line driver 500 used to driveword line 303 (FIG. 3A), word line 47 (FIG. 4J), word line 412 (FIG. 4V)or word line 432A (FIG. 4AA) in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention. In the described embodiment, the output voltagessupplied by word line driver 500 are provided to word line 303 (FIG.3A). Word line driver 500 consists of P-channel transistors 501-502 andN-channel transistors 503-505. To deactivate word line 303, transistor501 is turned on, thereby pulling word line 303 up to the positiveboosted word line voltage V_(CCB). The V_(CCB) word line voltage is highenough to turn off access transistor 301. To activate word line 303,pull-down transistor 503 is turned on, thereby pulling down word line303 to the V_(SSB) voltage. The generation of the V_(SSB) word linevoltage is described in more detail below.

The gate of word line pull-up transistor 501 and the gate of word linepull-down transistor 503 are commonly connected to a pass gate formed byp-channel transistor 502. Transistor 502, when turned on, couplestransistors 501 and 502 to receive an output signal X_(i) provided by arow address decoder 510. The gate of transistor 502 is coupled toreceive another output signal X_(j)# from row address decoder 510. Whenthe memory cells connected to word line 303 are selected for access, rowaddress decoder 510 first drives the X_(i) signal high, and then drivesthe X_(j)# signal low. The low state of the X_(j)# signal turns on passtransistor 502, which provides the logic high X_(i) signal to the gatesof the pull up and pull down transistors 501 and 503. Under theseconditions, pull down transistor 503 is turned on, thereby coupling wordline 303 to receive the V_(SSB) word line voltage.

As described in more detail below, row address decoder 510 controls afirst subset of word lines that includes word line 303 and a pluralityof other word lines. If word line 303 is not selected for access (butanother word line in the first subset of word lines is selected foraccess), then row address decoder 510 provides logic low values for boththe X_(i) and X_(j)# signals. Under these conditions, the gates of pullup and pull down transistors 501 and 503 are maintained at logic lowstates by n-channel transistor 504. Note that the gate of transistor 504is connected to word line 303, which is maintained at a logic high valuewhen word line 303 is not being accessed. As a result, transistor 504 isturned on when word line 303 is not being accessed, thereby coupling thegates of transistors 501 and 503 to the V_(ss) supply voltage. TheV_(ss) supply voltage turns on pull up transistor 501 and turns off pulldown transistor 503, thereby maintaining a logic high voltage (i.e.,V_(CCB)) on word line 303.

During the data retention state (i.e., when none of the word lines inthe first subset of word lines is being accessed), row address decoder510 drives the X_(j)# signal high, thereby turning on n-channeltransistor 505. Turned on transistor 505 couples the gates of pull upand pull down transistors 501 and 503 to the V_(ss) supply voltage. As aresult, pull up transistor 501 is turned on and pull down transistor 503is turned off. At this time, transistor 501 couples word line 303 toreceive the V_(CCB) voltage, thereby turning off access transistor 301of memory cell 300 (or the access transistors of memory cell 40 or 400).

Pull down transistor 503 is selected to be an n-channel transistor tospeed up the turn on of word line 303. However, in the presentembodiment, the bulk of all n-channel transistors formed are connectedto receive the V_(ss) supply voltage. (See, FIG. 3B, which illustratesp-type substrate 306 coupled to receive the V_(SS) supply voltage). As aresult, the minimum value of the V_(SSB) control voltage is limited toone diode voltage drop below the V_(SS) supply voltage (i.e., one diodevoltage drop below ground). Moreover, each row of memory cells has anassociated word line driver. There are usually numerous rows of memorycells (e.g., more than 100) in an embedded memory. As a result of thelarge number of word line drivers, the reverse junction leakage betweenthe substrate and the sources of the n-channel pull down transistors(such as pull down transistor 503) can be quite substantial. The reversejunction leakage increases exponentially as the V_(SSB) control voltagebecomes more negative. To limit the reverse junction leakage, the wordline drivers are divided into groups of32, with each group being coupledto a common V_(SSB) coupling circuit 700. As a result, the embeddedmemory is partitioned into small banks of 32 rows, as compared to128-512 rows per bank in standard DRAM processes. This is advantageousbecause DRAM cells fabricated using a conventional logic process havecell capacitors that are necessarily much smaller (e.g., 3 to 10femto-Farads) than cell capacitors in standard DRAM processes (e.g., 20to 40 femto-Farads) to keep cell size small. The smaller bank sizereduces the parasitics and noises proportionally during memory cellsensing operations. In one embodiment, each bank includes 64 or fewerrows. In another embodiment, each bank includes 32 or fewer rows. Notethat these embodiments might include one or more additional redundantrows.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a word line driver system 600that includes a first plurality of word line drivers 500, a secondplurality of V_(SSB) coupling circuits 700, a V_(CCB) voltage generator800 and a V_(BBS) voltage generator 900. Each V_(SSB) coupling circuit700 is coupled to a corresponding group of 32 word line drivers 500. Asdescribed in more detail below, when one of the word lines in a group isto be turned on, the corresponding V_(SSB) coupling circuit 700 iscontrolled to couple the V_(BBS) voltage generator 900 to thecorresponding group of 32 word line drivers. As a result, the V_(SSB)coupling circuit routes the negative boosted voltage V_(BBS) generatedby the V_(BBS) voltage generator 900 as the V_(SSB) voltage. Asdescribed in more detail below, V_(BBS) voltage generator 900 generatesa V_(BBS) voltage having a value less than one threshold voltage(V_(tp)) below the V_(SS) supply voltage. The V_(BBS) voltage istherefore greater than the V_(SS) supply minus one diode voltage drop.When none of the word lines in a group is to be turned on, thecorresponding V_(SSB) coupling circuit 700 is controlled to couple theV_(SS) voltage supply to the corresponding group of 32 word linedrivers. That is, the V_(SSB) coupling circuit 700 routes the V_(SS)supply voltage as the V_(SSB) voltage.

Because only a subset of the word line drivers 500 is coupled to receivethe V_(BBS) voltage at any given time, the reverse junction leakage issubstantially reduced. Moreover, by limiting the V_(BBS) voltage to avoltage less than one threshold voltage below the V_(SS) supply voltage,the reverse junction leakage is further reduced.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of V_(SSB) coupling circuit 700 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. V_(SSB)coupling circuit 700 includes p-channel transistors 701-703, n-channeltransistor 704 and inverters 711-714. P-channel transistor 701 isconnected between the V_(SSB) and V_(BBS) voltage supply lines. The gateof transistor 701 is coupled to node N2. Transistor 702 is connectedbetween node N2 and the V_(BBS) voltage supply line. P-channeltransistor 703 is connected as a capacitor, with its source and draincommonly connected to node N1, and its gate connected to node N2.N-channel transistor 704 is connected between the V_(SSB) voltage supplyline and the V_(SS) voltage supply terminal. The gate of transistor 704is connected to node N1. Inverters 711-714 are connected in series, withinverter 711 receiving the X_(j)# signal from row address decoder 510,and inverter 714 providing the delayed X_(j)# signal to node N1.

FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram illustrating various signals generatedduring the operation of V_(SSB) coupling circuit 700.

Prior to activating word line 303, the X_(i) signal is low and theX_(j)# signal is high. Under these conditions, the chain of inverters711-714 provides a logic high signal to node N1, thereby turning onn-channel transistor 704. As a result, the V_(SSB) supply line ismaintained at the V_(ss) supply voltage (0 Volts). Also, prior toactivating word line 303, the sub-threshold leakage of transistor 702pulls node N2 to a voltage less than one threshold voltage drop (V_(t))above V_(BBS), thereby preventing transistor 701 from turning on.

As described above in connection with FIG. 5, the X_(i)signal is drivenhigh and then the X_(j)# signal is driven low to activate word line 303.Under these conditions, pull down transistor 503 (FIG. 5) of word linedriver 500 turns on, thereby coupling word line 303 to the V_(SSB)supply line. Immediately after transistor 503 is turned on, the lowstate of the X_(j)# is propagating through the chain of inverters711-714 and has not reached node N1. During this time, n-channeltransistor 704 remains on, coupling the V_(SSB) supply line to receivethe V_(SS) supply voltage. Also during this time, the high state of nodeN1 pulls the source and drain of capacitor-coupled transistor 703 to ahigh state. Transistor 702 is connected as an MOS diode with its gateand drain connected to the V_(BBS) supply line. Transistor 702 thereforelimits the voltage at node N2 to no more than one threshold voltage(V_(t)) above the V_(BBS) voltage, or to a potential approximately equalto the V_(SS) supply voltage. Consequently, capacitor 703 is initiallycharged to a voltage approximately equal to the V_(dd) supply voltage(i.e., the voltage across transistor 703 is approximately equal toV_(dd)).

When the low state of the X_(j)# signal reaches node N1, transistor 704is turned off, thereby de-coupling the V_(SSB) voltage supply line fromthe V_(SS) voltage supply terminal. The low voltage at node N1 alsocauses capacitor 703 to pull node N2 down to a voltage equal to −V_(dd).The −V_(dd) voltage at node N2 turns on p-channel transistor 701,thereby coupling the V_(SSB) voltage supply line to the V_(BBS) voltagesupply line. Note that only 32 word line drivers are coupled to theV_(BBS) voltage supply line (and therefore the V_(BBS) voltage generator900) at this time. Because a relatively small number of word linedrivers are connected to the V_(BBS) supply line, the resulting junctionleakage is relatively small.

The on-chip V_(BBS) voltage generator 900 is designed to maintainV_(BBS) at approximately −0.3 Volts below the V_(SS) supply voltagedespite the junction leakage. Note that during the activation of wordline 303, this word line 303 is initially coupled to receive the V_(SS)supply voltage. When the voltage of word line 303 drops below the V_(dd)supply voltage, then word line 303 is coupled to receive the negativeboosted voltage V_(BBS). This limits the source-to-drain voltage of wordline pull down transistor 503 to be less than V_(CCB) minus V_(BBS),thereby preventing transistor 503 from being exposed to high voltagestress.

To de-activate word line 303, the X_(j)# signal is driven high by rowaddress decoder 510. In response, pull up transistor 501 in word linedriver 500 is turned on, thereby pulling up word line 303 to the V_(CCB)voltage. In V_(SSB) coupling circuit 700, the high state of the X_(j)#signal propagates through the delay chain formed by inverters 711-714,thereby providing a high voltage at node N1 which turns on transistor704. The high voltage at node N1 also couples node N2 to a voltage ofabout V_(SS), thereby turning off transistor 701. Under theseconditions, the V_(SSB) voltage supply line is coupled to the V_(SS)voltage supply terminal.

Voltage Reference Generation

The V_(CCB) and V_(SSB) voltages are generated by on-chip charge pumpcircuits in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 9A is a block diagram showing the general construction of theV_(CCB) and V_(SSB) boosted voltage generators 800 and 900 in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention. Each of the V_(CCB) andV_(SSB) boosted voltage generators consists of a ring oscillator 801, acharge pump 802 and a pump-controller 803, which controls the operationof the oscillator 801 and thus charge pump 802. Ring oscillator 801 andcharge pump 802 are conventional elements that are well documented inreferences such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,703,827 and 5,267,201.

FIG. 9B is a simplified schematic diagram of a charge pump controlcircuit 901 used in a conventional positive boosted voltage generator.Charge pump control circuit 901 includes a p-channel transistor 911having a gate coupled to receive the V_(dd) supply voltage, a source andbulk coupled to receive the positive boosted voltage V_(boost+), and adrain coupled to a reference current source 912. The drain of transistor911 is also connected to the Inhibit control line. Current source 912can be replaced with a resistor.

When the V_(boost+) voltage is higher than the V_(dd) supply voltage byone threshold voltage (V_(tp)), transistor 911 is turned on. The sourcecurrent from transistor 911 is compared to the reference current I_(REF)provided by current source 912. As the potential difference between theV_(boost+) and V_(dd) voltages increases, the source current fromtransistor 911 increases. When the source current is larger than thereference current I_(REF), the Inhibit control line is coupled toreceive the V_(boost+) voltage. The high state of the Inhibit signaldisables the ring oscillator 801, thereby shutting down the charge pump802 and stopping V_(boost+) from going higher. Depending on themagnitude of the reference current I_(REF), the boosted voltageV_(boost+) can be regulated at a voltage equal to the V_(dd) supplyvoltage plus one threshold voltage (V_(tp)) or higher. Note that thebulk of transistor 911 is coupled to receive the V_(boost+) voltage sothat the source-to-bulk junction of this transistor is not forwardbiased. However, this connection is possible only when the bulk oftransistor 911 is an N-well which can be isolated from the substrate, orwhen transistor 911 is formed in an n-type substrate that is biased to avoltage equal to or more positive than V_(boost+).

FIG. 9C is a simplified schematic diagram of a charge pump controlcircuit 902 used in a conventional negative boosted voltage generator.Charge pump control circuit 902 includes an n-channel transistor 921having a gate coupled to receive the V_(ss) supply voltage, a source andbulk coupled to receive the negative boosted voltage

V_(boost−), and a drain coupled to a reference current source 922. Thedrain of transistor 921 is also connected to the Inhibit# control line.Current source 922 can be replaced with a resistor.

When the V_(boost−) voltage is lower than the V_(ss) supply voltage byone threshold voltage (V_(tn)), transistor 921 is turned on. The draincurrent from transistor 921 is compared to the reference current I_(REF)provided by current source 922. As the potential difference betweenV_(boost−) and V_(ss) increases, the drain current from transistor 921increases. When the drain current is larger than the reference currentI_(REF), the Inhibit# control line is coupled to receive the V_(boost−)voltage. The low state of the Inhibit# signal disables the ringoscillator 801, thereby shutting down the charge pump 802 and stoppingthe V_(boost−) voltage from going more negative. Depending on themagnitude of the reference current I_(REF), the V_(boost−) voltage canbe regulated at a voltage equal to V_(ss) minus one threshold voltage(V_(tn)) or more. Note that the bulk of transistor 921 is coupled toreceive the V_(boost−) voltage so that the source-to-bulk junction ofthis transistor is not forward biased. This connection is possible onlywhen the bulk of transistor 921 is a p-well which can be isolated fromthe substrate, or when transistor 921 is formed in a p-type substratethat is biased a voltage equal to or more negative than V_(boost−).

Charge pump control circuits 901 and 902 cannot co-exist in aconventional logic process because such a process has the limitationthat only one type of transistor can be isolated in a well. That is,both n-wells and p-wells are not available in a conventional logicprocess as defined herein. Moreover, because the p-type substrate ofmemory cell 300 is biased at the V_(ss) voltage (FIG. 3B), the p-typesubstrate of memory cell 300 cannot be biased at a voltage equal to ormore negative than the negative boosted word line voltage V_(BBS).Furthermore, because charge pump control circuit 901 results in aV_(boost+) voltage greater than or equal to V_(dd) plus V_(tp), thischarge pump control circuit 901 cannot generate a V_(boost+) voltagegreater than the V_(dd) supply voltage, but less than the V_(dd) supplyvoltage plus the threshold voltage V_(tp) as required by the presentinvention.

Similarly, because charge pump control circuit 902 results in aV_(boost−) voltage less than or equal to the V_(ss) supply voltage minusthe threshold voltage V_(tn), this charge pump control circuit 902cannot generate a V_(boost−) voltage less than the V_(ss) supplyvoltage, but greater than the V_(ss) supply voltage minus the absolutevalue of the threshold voltage V_(tn) as required by the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a V_(CCB) charge pump control circuit1000 in accordance with the one embodiment of the present invention.V_(CCB) charge pump control circuit 1000 is used to replace charge pumpcontrol circuit 803 (FIG. 9A), thereby creating a V_(CCB) referencevoltage generation circuit that is capable of generating the desiredV_(CCB) voltage. V_(CCB) charge pump control circuit 1000 includesp-channel transistors 1001-1003 and reference current sources 1004-1005.The source of p-channel transistor 1001 is coupled to receive the V_(dd)supply voltage, and the gate and drain of p-channel transistor 1001 arecommonly connected to reference current source 1004. P-channeltransistor 1001 is thereby connected as a diode between the V_(dd)voltage supply and reference current source 1004. Reference currentsource 1004 generates a reference current, I_(REFP), which establishes areference voltage, V_(REFP), on the gate of p-channel transistor 1002.

P-channel transistor 1001 has a channel width of W_(p). P-channeltransistors 1001 and 1002 have the same channel lengths. However,p-channel transistor 1002 has a channel width of m times W_(p), where mis a multiplying constant. The drain of transistor 1002 is connected toanother reference current source 1005, which generates a referencecurrent, I_(REFP1) The source of transistor 1002 is connected to nodeV_(p). Node V_(p) is also connected to the drain and gate of p-channeltransistor 1003. The source of transistor 1003 is connected to receivethe positive boosted voltage V_(CCB) from charge pump 802. If thereference currents I_(REFP) and I_(REFP1) are equal, and transistor 1002has the same channel width as transistor 1001 (i.e., m=1), then nodeV_(p) will be held at a voltage equal to the V_(dd) supply voltage.Under these conditions, the positive boosted voltage V_(CCB) will behigher than the V_(dd) supply voltage by a voltage greater than theabsolute value of the threshold voltage V_(tp) of p-channel transistor1003.

In the present embodiment, reference current I_(REFP) is setapproximately equal to reference current I_(REFP1), and the multiplyingconstant m is set equal to four. Because the channel length oftransistor 1002 is four times longer than the channel length oftransistor 1001, the source-to-gate voltage of transistor 1002 is lessthan the source-to-gate voltage of transistor 1001. As a result, thevoltage on node V_(p) is less than the V_(dd) supply voltage. Forexample, if reference currents I_(REFP) and I_(REFP1) are both set equalto about 50 μA, then the voltage on node V_(p) will be about 0.2 Voltsless than the V_(dd) supply voltage. The channel width of transistor1003 is selected to be relatively large (e.g., on the order of 50 μm)such that the source-to-gate voltage of transistor 1003 is approximatelyequal to the threshold voltage of transistor 1003 (e.g., 0.5 Volts). Asa result, the V_(CCB) voltage is maintained at a voltage about 0.3 Voltsgreater than the V_(dd) supply voltage. The V_(CCB) voltage is thereforeless than one threshold voltage greater than the V_(dd) supply voltage.

In another embodiment, p-channel transistor 1003 can be eliminated, suchthat the V_(CCB) voltage is provided directly to node V_(p). However, inthis embodiment, the channel width of transistor 1002 must be selectedto smaller than the channel width W_(p) of transistor 1001. That is, themultiplier constant m must be selected to be less than one, such thatthe source-to-gate voltage of transistor 1002 is greater than thesource-to-gate voltage of transistor 1001 by about 0.3 Volts (or anothervoltage that is less than the p-channel threshold voltage).

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a V_(BBS) charge pump control circuit1100 in accordance with the one embodiment of the present invention.V_(BBS) charge pump control circuit 1100 is used to replace charge pumpcontrol circuit 803 (FIG. 9A), thereby creating a V_(BBS) referencevoltage generation circuit that is capable of generating the desiredV_(BBS) voltage. V_(BBS) charge pump control circuit 1100 includesn-channel transistors 1101-1102, p-channel transistor 1103 and referencecurrent sources 1104-1105. The source of n-channel transistor 1101 isconnected to receive the V_(ss) supply voltage. The drain and gate oftransistor 1101 are commonly connected to reference current source 1104.Thus, transistor 1101 is connected as a diode. Reference current source1104 is connected between the V_(dd) voltage supply and the commonlyconnected drain and gate drain of n-channel transistor 1101. Referencecurrent source 1104 provides a reference current I_(REFN1) to n-channeltransistor 1101. The reference current I_(REFN1) establishes a referencevoltage, V_(REFN), on the gate of n-channel transistor 1102.

N-channel transistor 1101 has a channel width of W_(n). N-channeltransistors 1101 and 1102 have the same channel lengths. However,n-channel transistor 1102 has a channel width of n times W_(n), where nis a multiplying constant. The drain of transistor 1102 is connected toanother reference current source 1105, which generates a referencecurrent, I_(REFN) The source of transistor 1102 is connected to nodeV_(N). Node V_(N) is also connected to the source of p-channeltransistor 1103. The drain and gate of transistor 1103 are commonlyconnected to receive the negative boosted voltage V_(BBS). If thereference currents I_(REFN) and I_(REFN1) are equal, and transistor 1102has the same channel width as transistor 1101 (i.e., n=1), then nodeV_(N) will be held at a voltage equal to the V_(ss) supply voltage.Under these conditions, the negative boosted voltage V_(BBS) will beregulated at a voltage approximately one threshold voltage (V_(tp))below the V_(ss) supply voltage.

In the present embodiment, reference current TREFN is set approximatelyequal to reference current I_(REFN1), and the multiplying constant n isset equal to four. Because the channel width of transistor 1102 is fourtimes longer than the channel width of transistor 1101, thesource-to-gate voltage of transistor 1102 is less than thesource-to-gate voltage of transistor 1101. As a result, the voltagepotential on node V_(N) is higher than the V_(ss) supply voltage. Forexample, if reference currents I_(REFN) and IREFN, are both set equal toabout 50 μA, then the voltage on node V_(N) will be about 0.2 Voltsgreater than the V_(ss) supply voltage. The channel width of transistor1103 is selected to be relatively large (e.g., on the order of 50 μm)such that the source-to-gate voltage of transistor 1103 is approximatelyequal to the threshold voltage of transistor 1103 (e.g., 0.5 Volts). Asa result, the V_(BBS) voltage is maintained at a voltage about 0.3 Voltsless than the V_(ss) supply voltage. The V_(BBS) voltage is thereforeless than one threshold voltage less than the V_(ss) supply voltage.

In another embodiment, p-channel transistor 1103 can be eliminated, suchthat the V_(BBS) voltage is provided directly to node V_(N). However, inthis embodiment, the channel width of transistor 1102 must be selectedto smaller than the channel width W_(n) of transistor 1101. That is, themultiplier constant n must be selected to be less than one, such thatthe source-to-gate voltage of transistor 1102 is greater than thesource-to-gate voltage of transistor 1101 by about 0.3 Volts (or anothervoltage that is less than the p-channel threshold voltage).

It is desirable to keep the V_(CCB) and V_(BBS) voltages relativelyconstant for variations in temperature. In general, the transistorthreshold voltage V_(t) tends to decrease as the temperature increases.To compensate for this temperature effect, reference current sources1004 and 1104 are constructed such that reference currents I_(REFP) andI_(REFN1) have negative temperature coefficients (i.e., referencecurrents I_(REFP) and I_(REFN1) decrease as the temperature increases).

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of reference current source 1004 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Referencecurrent source 1004 includes p-channel transistors 1201-1202, resistor1203 and n-channel transistors 1204-1206. Resistor 1203 is connectedbetween the V_(dd) voltage supply and the gate of transistor 1201,thereby setting the bias for transistor 1201. The current I_(R) throughresistor 1203 is equal to the threshold voltage V_(tp) of transistor1201 divided by the resistance of resistor 1203. The current I_(R) istherefore directly related to the threshold voltage V_(tp). The currentI_(R) flows through p-channel transistor 1202 and n-channel transistor1205.

The gate and source of transistor 1202 are coupled to the drain andgate, respectively, of transistor 1201. The voltage on the gate oftransistor 1202 is translated to the drain of transistor 1202. N-channeltransistors 1204-1206 each have a source terminal coupled to the V_(ss)voltage supply and a gate terminal coupled to the drain of transistor1202, thereby forming a current mirror circuit. The current I_(R) isthereby translated to transistor 1206. As a result, the current throughn-channel transistor 1206 (i.e., I_(REFP)) is directly related to thethreshold voltage V_(tp) of p-channel transistor 1201.

Reference current source 1004 provides temperature compensation asfollows.

As the temperature increases, the threshold voltages V_(tp) oftransistors 1002 and 1003 (FIG. 10) decrease, thereby causing theV_(CCB) voltage to decrease. However, as the temperature increases, thethreshold voltage V_(tp) of transistor 1201 (FIG. 12) decreases. Inresponse, the current I_(R) decreases, thereby reducing the I_(REFP)current. As a result, the gate-to-source voltage of p-channel transistor1001 (FIG. 10) decreases, thereby increasing the V_(REFP) voltage. Theincreased V_(REFP) voltage, in turn, causes the voltage V_(p) toincrease, thereby increasing the V_(CCB) voltage. The temperature effectof the threshold voltage V_(tp) of transistors 1002 and 1003 is therebypartially compensated by the negative temperature coefficient of theI_(REFP) current. In this manner, reference current source 1004 providestemperature compensation to V_(CCB) pump control circuit 1000.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of reference current source 1104 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Becausereference current source 1104 is similar to reference current source1004 (FIG. 12), similar elements in FIGS. 12 and 13 are labeled withsimilar reference numbers. Thus, reference current source 1104 includesp-channel transistors 1201-1202, resistor 1203 and n-channel transistors1204-1205. In addition, reference current source 1104 includes ap-channel transistor 1301 having a gate coupled to the gate oftransistor 1201, and a source coupled to receive the V_(dd) supplyvoltage.

Reference current source 1104 provides temperature compensation asfollows.

As the temperature increases, the threshold voltages V_(t) oftransistors 1102 and 1103 (FIG. 11) decrease, thereby causing theV_(BBS) voltage to increase. However, as the temperature increases, thethreshold voltage V_(tp) of p-channel transistor 1201 decreases. As aresult, the current I_(R) decreases. Because transistors 1201 and 1301are coupled to form a current mirror circuit, the decrease in thecurrent I_(R) results in a decrease in the current I_(REFN1). A decreasein the current I_(REFN1), in turn, causes a decrease in the voltageV_(REFN) (FIG. 11). The decrease in V_(REFN) results in a decrease ofthe voltage V_(N), which in turn, causes a decrease in the V_(BBS)voltage. In this manner, reference current source 1104 providestemperature compensation to V_(BBS) pump control circuit 1100.

If the I_(REFP1) current is temperature independent, then referencecurrent source 1004 (FIG. 12) mainly compensates for the temperatureeffect of transistor 1002, thereby leaving the temperature effect oftransistor 1003 largely uncompensated. Similarly, if the I_(REFN)current is temperature independent, then reference current source 1104(FIG. 13) mainly compensates for the temperature effect of transistor1102, leaving the temperature effect of transistor 1103 largelyuncompensated. To compensate for the uncompensated temperature effectsof transistors 1003 and 1103, reference current sources 1005 and 1105are constructed such that reference currents I_(REFP1) and I_(REFN) havepositive temperature coefficients (i.e., reference currents I_(REFP1)and I_(REFN) increase as the temperature increases)

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of reference current source 1005 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Referencecurrent source 1005 includes p-channel transistors 1401-1403, n-channeltransistors 1411-1414, PNP bipolar transistors 1421-1422 and resistor1431. Transistors 1401, 1411 and 1421 are connected in series betweenthe V_(dd) and V_(ss) voltage supplies. Transistors 1402, 1412 and 1422and resistor 1431 are connected in series between the V_(dd) and V_(ss)voltage supplies. Transistor 1403 is connected in series withparallel-connected transistors 1413-1414 between the V_(dd) and V_(ss)voltage supplies. P-channel transistors 1401-1403 are configured to forma current mirror circuit, such that the same current flows through allthree of these transistors 1401-1403. The emitter of transistor 1422 isselected to be m times larger than the emitter of transistor 1421, wherem is a multiplying constant. In the described embodiment, themultiplying constant m is equal to 4. The multiplying constant m and theresistor value of resistor 1431 is selected such that the resultantcurrent TREFP1 is approximately equal to I_(REFP) The voltages at thesources of transistors 1411 and 1412 are maintained at the same voltageby transistors 1401-1402 and 1411-1412. As a result, the voltage acrosstransistor 1421 is equal to the voltage across resistor 1431 andtransistor 1422.

The operation of reference current source 1005 is well documented inreferences such as “Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits”,by P. R. Gray and R. G. Meyer, pp. 330-333, which is hereby incorporatedby reference. The current I_(R) through resistor 1431 is equal toV_(T)/R ln(m). V_(T)=kT/q, where k is equal to Boltzmann's constant, Tis equal to absolute temperature, and q is equal to electron charge. Thecurrent through resistor 1431 is therefore directly related totemperature. The current I_(R) through resistor 1431 is translated tocreate the I_(REFP1) current through transistors 1403 and 1413-1414. Asa result, the I_(REFP1) current is directly related to temperature.Thus, as temperature increases, the I_(REFP1) current increases. Theincreased I_(REFP1) current increases the gate-to-source voltages oftransistors 1002 and 1003 in FIG. 10, thereby offsetting the decrease inthe threshold voltage V_(tp) of transistor 1003 which occurs withincreases in temperature. As described above, the decrease of thethreshold voltage V_(tp) of transistor 1003 tends to decrease theV_(CCB) voltage. However, the increased I_(REFP1) current tends toincrease the V_(CCB) voltage. The net result is that the V_(CCB) voltageis maintained relatively constant throughout the operating temperaturerange.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of reference current source 1105 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Referencecurrent source 1105 includes p-channel transistors 1401-1402 and 1501,n-channel transistors 14111412, PNP bipolar transistors 1421-1422 andresistor 1431. Transistors 1401-1402, 1411-1412, 1421-1422 and resistor1432 are connected in the manner described above for FIG. 14. Inaddition, the gate of transistor 1501 is commonly connected to the gatesof transistors 1401-1402. As described above, the current I_(R) throughresistor 1431 is directly related to temperature. Thus, as thetemperature increases, the I_(R) current through resistor 1431increases. This increased current is translated to transistor 1501,thereby resulting in an increased I_(REFN) current. The increasedI_(REFN) current increases the gate-to-source voltages of transistors1102 and 1103 in FIG. 11, thereby offsetting the decrease in thresholdvoltage V_(tp) of transistor 1103 in FIG. 11. As described above, thedecrease in the threshold voltage V_(tp) of transistor 1103 tends toincrease the V_(BBS) voltage. However, the increased I_(REFN) currenttends to decrease the V_(BBS) voltage. The result is that the V_(BBS)voltage is maintained relatively constant in the operating temperaturerange of the reference current circuit 1104.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating reference current circuit1600 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.Reference current circuit 1600 combines reference current-circuits 1004and 1104 in a single circuit, thereby reducing the required layout areaof the resulting circuit. Similar elements in FIGS. 12, 13 and 16 arelabeled with similar reference numbers. Reference current circuit 1600operates in the same manner as reference current circuits 1104 and 1104.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating reference current circuit1700 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.Reference current circuit 1700 combines reference current circuits 1005and 1105 in a single circuit, thereby reducing the required layout areaof the resulting circuit. Similar elements in FIGS. 14, 15 and 17 arelabeled with similar reference numbers. Reference current circuit 1700operates in the manner as reference current circuits 1005 and 1105.

The preferred embodiment described above uses PMOS transistors for thememory cells. The p-channel transistors are fabricated in N-well onP-substrate. In another embodiment, the memory cells can be fabricatedusing NMOS transistors. In such an embodiment, the word line isactivated high and deactivated low.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating word line driver circuit1600 and a V_(BBC) coupling circuit 1800 that can be used to drivememory cells constructed from NMOS transistors. Word line driver circuit1600 includes p-channel pull-up transistor 501 and n-channel pull-downtransistor 503, which were described above in connection with word linedriver 500 (FIG. 5). The remainder of word line driver 1600 is areciprocal circuit of word line driver 500. The reciprocal circuit isobtained by replacing PMOS transistors NMOS transistors, replacing NMOStransistors with PMOS transistors, replacing connections to the V_(dd)voltage supply with connections to the V_(ss) voltage supply, andreplacing connections to the V_(ss) voltage supply with connections tothe V_(dd) voltage supply. Thus, in addition to pull up and pull downtransistors 501 and 503, word line driver 1600 includes n-channeltransistor 1601, p-channel transistors 1602-1603 and row address decoder1610.

N-channel pull-down transistor 503 of word line driver 500 is coupleddirectly to V_(BBS) voltage generator 900. In this embodiment, theV_(BBS) voltage generator provides a V_(BBS) voltage about −0.3 V belowthe V_(ss) supply voltage. The p-channel pull-up transistor 501 of wordline driver 500 is coupled to receive a V_(BBC) voltage from V_(BBC)coupling circuit 1800. Row address decoder 1610 provides control signalsX_(i)# and X_(j), which are the inverse of the control signals X_(i) andX_(j)# provided by row address decoder 510 (FIG. 5).

V_(BBC) coupling circuit 1800 is the reciprocal the coupling circuit 700of FIG. 7. Thus, V_(BBC) coupling circuit 1800 includes n-channeltransistors 1801-1803, p-channel transistor 1804 and inverters1811-1814, as illustrated.

Prior to activating word line 303, the X_(i)# signal is high and theX_(j) signal is low. Under these conditions, transistor 1602 is turnedon, thereby applying the Vdd supply voltage to the gates of transistors501 and 503. As a result, pull-down transistor 503 turns on, therebyproviding the V_(BBS) voltage to word line 303. Also under theseconditions, the chain of inverters 1811-1814 provides a logic low signalto node N1, thereby turning on p-channel transistor 1804. As a result,the V_(BBC) supply line is maintained at the V_(dd) supply voltage.Also, prior to activating word line 303, the subthreshold leakage oftransistor 1802 pulls node N2 to a voltage greater than one thresholdvoltage drop (V_(t)) below V_(CCB), thereby preventing transistor 1801from turning on.

The X_(i)# signal is driven low and then the X_(j) signal is driven highto activate word line 303. Under these conditions, pull up transistor501 turns on, thereby coupling word line 303 to the V_(BBC) voltagecoupling circuit 1800. Immediately after transistor 501 is turned on,the high state of the X_(j) signal is propagating through the chain ofinverters 1811-1814 and has not reached node N1. During this time,p-channel transistor 1804 remains on, coupling the V_(BBC) supply lineto receive the V_(dd) supply voltage. Also during this time, the lowstate of node N1 pulls the source and drain of capacitor-coupledtransistor 1803 to a low state. Transistor 1802 is connected as an MOSdiode with its gate and drain connected to the V_(CCB) supply line.Transistor 1802 therefore limits the voltage at node N2 to no more thanone threshold voltage (V_(t)) below the V_(CCB) voltage, or to apotential approximately equal to the V_(dd) supply voltage.Consequently, capacitor 1803 is initially charged to a voltageapproximately equal to the V_(dd) supply voltage (i.e., the voltageacross transistor 1803 is approximately equal to V_(dd)).

When the high state of the X_(j) signal reaches node N1, transistor 1804is turned off, thereby de-coupling the V_(BBC) voltage supply line fromthe V_(dd) voltage supply terminal. The high voltage at node N1 alsocauses capacitor 1803 to pull node N2 up to a voltage equal to 2V_(dd).The 2V_(dd) voltage at node N2 turns on n-channel transistor 1801,thereby coupling the V_(CCB) voltage supply line to the V_(BBC) voltagesupply line.

Although the invention has been described in connection with severalembodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to theembodiments disclosed, but is capable of various modifications whichwould be apparent to a person skilled in the art. Thus, the invention islimited only by the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A memory system that operates in response to a positivesupply voltage and a ground supply voltage, the memory systemcomprising: a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell having an accesstransistor and a capacitor structure, wherein the capacitor structure isformed at least partially in a cavity formed in a field dielectricregion; a word line coupled to the gate electrode, wherein the word lineis activated to access the DRAM cell; a word line driver coupled to theword line; and a positive boosted voltage generator for providing apositive boosted voltage greater than the positive supply voltage andless than one diode voltage drop greater than the positive supplyvoltage, the positive boosted voltage generator being coupled to theword line driver.
 2. The memory system of claim 1, wherein the word linedriver comprises a p-channel transistor coupled between the word lineand the positive boosted voltage generator, and an n-channel transistorcoupled to the word line.
 3. The memory system of claim 2, furthercomprising a negative boosted voltage generator for providing a negativeboosted voltage less than the ground supply voltage, the negativeboosted voltage generator being coupled to the word line driver.
 4. Thememory system of claim 3, wherein the negative boosted voltage is lessthan the ground supply voltage by a voltage less than the absolute valueof one diode voltage drop.
 5. The memory system of claim 3, furthercomprising a coupling circuit coupled between the word line driver andthe negative boosted voltage generator, the coupling circuit beingconfigured to provide the ground supply voltage to the word line driverwhen the word line is first activated, the coupling circuit furtherbeing configured to provide the negative boosted voltage to the wordline driver when the voltage on the word line falls below the positivesupply voltage.
 6. The memory system of claim 5, wherein the couplingcircuit comprises: a first transistor coupled between the word linedriver and a terminal providing the ground supply voltage; a secondtransistor coupled between the word line driver and the negative boostedvoltage generator; and a delay chain coupled to a gate of the firsttransistor.
 7. The memory system of claim 6, further comprising: acapacitor coupled between the delay chain and a gate of the secondtransistor; and a diode element coupled between the gate of the secondtransistor and the negative boosted voltage generator.
 8. The memorysystem of claim 3, further comprising a coupling circuit coupled betweenthe n-channel transistor and the negative boosted voltage generator, thecoupling circuit being configured to couple the negative boosted voltagegenerator to the n-channel transistor when the word line is activated,and the coupling circuit being configured to provide the ground supplyvoltage to the n-channel transistor when the word line is not activated.9. A memory system that operates in response to a positive supplyvoltage and a ground supply voltage, the memory system comprising: adynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell having an access transistor anda capacitor structure, wherein the capacitor structure is formed atleast partially in a cavity formed in a field dielectric region; a wordline coupled to the DRAM cell, wherein the word line is activated toaccess the DRAM cell; a word line driver coupled to the word line; and anegative boosted voltage generator for providing a negative boostedvoltage less than the ground supply voltage by a voltage less than theabsolute value of one diode voltage drop, wherein the negative boostedvoltage generator is coupled to the word line driver.
 10. The memorysystem of claim 9, wherein the word line driver comprises an n-channeltransistor coupled between the word line and the negative boostedvoltage generator, and a p-channel transistor coupled to the word line.11. The memory system of claim 10, further comprising a positive boostedvoltage generator for providing a positive boosted voltage greater thanthe positive supply voltage, the positive boosted voltage generatorbeing coupled to the word line driver.
 12. The memory system of claim11, wherein the positive boosted voltage is greater than the positivesupply voltage by less than one diode voltage drop.
 13. The memorysystem of claim 11, further comprising a coupling circuit between thep-channel transistor and the positive boosted voltage generator, thecoupling circuit being configured to couple the positive boosted voltagegenerator to the p-channel transistor when the word line is activated,and the coupling circuit being configured to provide the positive supplyvoltage to the p-channel transistor when the word line is not activated.14. The memory system of claim 11, further comprising a coupling circuitcoupled between the word line driver and the positive boosted voltagegenerator, the coupling circuit being configured to provide the positivesupply voltage to the word line driver when the word line is firstactivated, the coupling circuit further being configured to provide thepositive boosted voltage to the word line driver when the voltage on theword line rises above the ground supply voltage.
 15. The memory systemof claim 14, wherein the coupling circuit comprises: a first transistorcoupled between the word line driver and a terminal providing thepositive supply voltage; a second transistor coupled between the wordline driver and the positive boosted voltage generator; and a delaychain coupled to a gate of the first transistor.
 16. The memory systemof claim 15, further comprising: a capacitor coupled between the delaychain and a gate of the second transistor; and a diode element coupledbetween the gate of the second transistor and the positive boostedvoltage generator.